CNN has a photo gallery of folks who are making the most of the recession, starting up businesses or spending the time well, building decks in their backyards or just hanging out with their families. Check it out here.
Is College a Bad Investment?
Perhaps heading off to college right after high school isn’t the slam dunk decision it has been in the past. Somehow, the going rate for a year’s tuition, room, and board is now in the neighborhood of $50,000 at many colleges. That’s a lot to pay for four years of keg stands, random hookups, and occasional insights into all that man has …
The credit-union model of credit cards
An op-ed in today’s NYT argues that despite new legislation restricting the fees credit-card companies can charge consumers, there’s a decent chance that your good-citizen cardholder won’t suffer a worst-case scenario of high annual fees, absolutely no perks and interest charges that start to accrue as soon as purchases are made. Ryan …
More on Peter Bernstein
Australian executive Rob Ferguson sends me a link to an appreciation he’s written of Peter Bernstein. Which reminds me that I don’t think I ever linked here to the brief obit I wrote for TIME. The story Ferguson tells is classic Bernstein—an executive at Bankers Trust (head of its Australian operation), Ferguson had called Bernstein …
Netflix vs. Redbox vs. Blockbuster: What’s the Best Movie Rental Deal?
I’m a fan of Netflix. The DVDs arrive in a timely fashion. When something goes wrong, like a movie goes missing in the mail or is too scratched to work, the company takes responsibility and fixes it quickly. And any business that voluntarily lowers customer fees—Netflix did this a couple years back, dropping my family’s monthly bill by …
Cheap Sunscreen’s Just as Good
When it comes to sunscreen, paying more doesn’t mean you get more protection from the sun. Inexpensive store brands work just as well as any pricey brand, according to the American Academy of Dermatology via the WSJ. So it’s OK to save your money by buying a cheaper bottle of sunscreen, but make sure to use SPF 30, which blocks 97 …
Be Savvy When Purchasing Your … Soul Mate?
CNN’s Consumer Tips blog has a post about how to figure out if someone you’re dating is THE ONE. Wait. What? Yes, this is filed under Consumer Tips, with the tag line “Empowering you to be a savvy consumer.” I guess this is one area in which you really should shop around. I’m not sure if there’s a way to get a deal on last year’s model …
For all its flaws, the market’s all we’ve got. Or is it?
I’m sitting here trying to figure out my column for this week—it’s about financial regulation, but I haven’t gotten much further than that. And yeah, I’m still Googling pretty regularly to see what kind of chatter is going on out there about my book. Which is how I happened to come across this brand-new column by Robert Teitelman, …
Poll: Skipping Doctor’s Visits Because They Cost Too Much
Here are some of the latest numbers that indicate our health care system is sick and in need of immediate attention: A new poll shows that one-quarter of American households had trouble paying for health care costs in the past year, and that, to avoid incurring expenses, 40 percent plan on delaying treatment and routine doctor’s visits …
Jimmy Choos at H&M: Recession’s Impact at High- and Low-End Stores
In certain circles, this may qualify as sacrilege: Bargain merchant H&M will soon be selling Jimmy Choos—the chic designer women’s shoes that are regularly seen on red carpets and “Sex and the City,” and that normally retail for over $500. It’s unclear how much the shoes will cost at H&M, but it wouldn’t be shocking if they’re offered …
Catching up on the business-school oath story
As part of what will be a continuing series of posts on things I should have written about weeks ago, but was too busy checking my book’s Amazon ranking to get to (it’s now bouncing around the mid 100s, which makes checking less fun, although it did debut on the WSJ business best-seller list Friday, at #12), here’s what’s up with …
How We Shop Now: More or Less of the Same?
Back when I was a teenager … whoah, I guess I’m old enough to start a thought that way and not just be mocking someone with gray hair nearby. Well, back when I was a teenager, I’m pretty sure there were no “teen retailers.” Not only are there such stores today, but some, like Aeropostale, are apparently managing to earn profits amid …